Thermal and morphological aspects of silver decorated halloysite reinforced polypropylene nanocomposites

A new product was designed and produced based on silver decorated halloysite nanotube and polypropylene (PP), as a novel nanocomposite. Using sodium borohydride as chemical reductant, silver nanoparticles decorated on halloysite nanotubes were simply and effectively synthesized via the assistance of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surface modifier and also co-capping agent for decoration of halloysite nanotubes. The adsorption of PVP on the surface of the halloysite nanotube by using chemical and physical interactions or electrostatic effects could enhance the stability and dispersibility of silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of halloysite nanotubes. Silver decorated halloysite nanotubes were used to prepare PP nanocomposites by melt compounding method. A wide range of silver decorated halloysite nanotube loading on PP was fabricated (i.e., 2–8 mass%). The PP nanocomposites with silver decorated nanotubes exhibit concurrence increase in thermal properties. Morphology studies show that silver decorated halloysite nanotubes can be dispersed in PP uniformly at higher filler loading. DSC studies confirmed that the decorated halloysite nanotubes facilitate the crystallization of PP due to the heterogeneous nucleation. Silver decorated halloysite as filler for PP showed good perspectives in piping industry.